Posts in category Hyperthyroidism Alternative Treatments

I considered it my moral duty to inform you about any product, supplement or herb that can help Graves’ Disease/hyperthyroidism or related symptoms and this post is no exception.

Some years ago, when I was writing one of my books “Life Stories for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism” and collecting stories from people about what helped them and what did not, I received the following information from one of my subscribers, Ted Salonica (I am extracting the information that pertains only to this specific product, Serrapeptase).

“…..What I also found to help me greatly with the inflammation and swelling in and around the eyes is a natural enzyme called Serrapeptase – nature’s steroid, a gift from the silkworm. What does Serrapeptase do? Dead and inflamed tissues are two of the key causes of the majority of ailments in the body. Serrapeptase digests (dissolves) non-living tissue, blood clots, cysts, and arterial plaque and all inflamed tissue which is then dispersed. There is a growing list of conditions that respond to Serrapeptase. In over 25 years of studies and usage no harmful side effects have been found….”

I researched further and found that Serrapeptase has been used in Asia and Europe for almost 3 decades.

So, Serrapeptase is actually a proteolytic enzyme, isolated from the non-pathogenic bacteria Serratia species found in the digestive track of Japanese silkworm. It may sound nasty, but the enzyme is used by the worms to digest their cocoons. I am just wondering who in the world and in their right mind would research a product that comes from the intestines of a worm and this is simply beyond my imagination.:) Anyhow, I am glad that there are such people and this product is available now on the market (including the USA).

Serrapeptase is not only helpful for eye inflammation, as reported by numerous customer reviews, for example, but it also has numerous positive “side effects”: it helps pain of any kind, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, sport’s injuries, traumatic swelling, post-operative swellings, Crohn’s disease, colitis, inflammation of any kind, high cholesterol, autism, fibroids and scar tissue, varicose veins, to list just a few.

Is this some kind of miracle supplement? I don’t know yet, I just ordered it even though I don’t have any current complains, only my inflamed and hurting knee due to a recent volleyball injury…

Cons: Have in mind that Serrapeptase is considered a blood thinner, so if you are on any Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs, consult your doctor first before taking it.

Pros: it is a natural anti-inflammatory product, better than the harmful NSAIDs and corticosteroids.

How should you take it: 1-3 capsules daily (40 000 SPU), depending on the concentration or as directed on the label.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. It does not substitute a medical opinion, nor should be used for treatment purposes.

P.S. I have no financial interest in recommending this product.

P.S.S. If you have experience with Serrapепtase, please, do not hesitate to write me or share your experience in the comments.

And here is also the first secret: if you want to improve your health and help your Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism, you have to get enough sleep, no matter how! These are some remedies that you can apply right away, but let’s start with the basics first:

Insomnia (or inability to sleep) due to Graves’ disease and/or hyperthyroidism is a common symptom for people suffering from the the above disorders. Secondary insomnia (which is due to a medical condition) is characterized by one or a few of the following:

– difficulty falling asleep

– waking up at night and inability to go back to sleep

– waking up too early in the morning

– feeling tired in the morning, i.e. poor sleep quality

One of the reasons for this insomnia is of course are the high cortisol levels, and as you can guess they’re caused by stress- chronic or acute. Stress and anxiety could be number one reason for your inability to sleep and recharge at night.

I still remember vividly how I felt 11 years ago, when I was sick with Graves’ disease. I could not sleep more than two or three hours per night, then I would wake up and won’t be able to fall asleep no matter what. Occasionally, my palpitations will hit at night, which would make the situation even worse. The mornings were even worse: I felt very tired, irritable, sleepy and exhausted (no wonder why!). I am not even mentioning the loss of concentration, problems with memory and the feeling that I am not completely myself. Regardless I was so tired, I felt restless, nervous and like somebody was “pushing” me to move constantly and do more things around the house and in the yard. I just couldn’t stop. It was a vicious circle and the experience was horrible, I have to admit. I still don’t understand how I was able to work and be “normal” (if anything at all was normal back then)…

It is scientifically proven that sleep deprivation also can lead to confusion, depression, hallucinations, heart problem, hand tremors, elevated stress hormone levels, headaches, and in certain cases even to psychosis. In a study in 1999 it was also found that sleep deprivation increases the activity on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (which controls reactions to stress and regulates body functions such as digestion, the immune system, mood, sex, or energy usage) while suppressing growth hormones. Needless to say, in people with hyperthyroidism the activity of this HPA axis is already too active!

In conclusion, sleep deprivation is very serious and has numerous health consequences, especially for people suffering from Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism!

My personal opinion is that you have to get at least 8 hours of sleep, or rest about 11 hours (rest not sleep!). I know that it sounds too much for many of you, but if you’re able to accomplish that I promise it will change the whole picture and how you feel tremendously! In fact, this is where you start your healing journey!

Below are some methods that I’ve used to achieve these 8 hours of sleep and most of them worked for me. Once I started to get enough sleep, I was able to think clearly and decide what steps to take in order to improve my health condition, but this definitely was my starting point.

1. Herbs that help insomnia: Lavender, Valerian Roots and Lemon Balm (and some others as well). All of them have mild sedative effect and I suggest you try them one by one as a tea (or diffuser for Lavender) right before going to bed, but don’t mix them all together. This is a better way to check which herb has an effect on you (or not). As a general rule, try to avoid tea bags, as the herbs don’t have long shelf life and might not be effective (use bulk herbs instead). If in any doubt, consult naturopath.

2. Melatonin: this is a hormone, produced by your pineal gland and it usually increases in the evenings. It’s also come as over the counter medication that usually helps people who have problems with melatonin levels. It did not work for me, but some people said it helped them.

3. Avoid aspartame, caffeine, too much alcohol (a glass of red wine may be actually helpful). Late dinners, over-stimulation before going to bed or watching TV are not recommended either. (I stopped watching TV around that time and found that very helpful for my sleep). Take out of your bedroom cell phones, TV’s, tablets or any other equipment that may interfere with your sleep. Start preparing yourself for bed time way ahead, because routine activities help the sleeping patterns.

4. Psychologically speaking, anxiety is a big problem that may cause severe insomnia. Anxiety is worrying about different things (within or out of your control), re-playing scenes from your everyday life: things you should’ve said, but you didn’t or things you should’ve handled differently; worrying about the future or about significant or insignificant things. Anxiety has too many faces and variations to be mentioned here. But please, get this anxiety under control!

How do you fight anxiety?

Some of the best methods: meditate, relax, let go, take better care of yourself, force yourself to do nothing for at least 1 hour daily. Find space and time to re-charge yourself, because you can’t pour water from an empty bucket, can you? Get help from a mental health professional if you can’t manage it yourself. It’s worth the efforts. Behavioral therapies may include progressive muscle relaxation, stimulus control, ways to increase sleep efficiency and reworking the misconceptions about sleep.

5. Last, but not least. Even though I disapprove medication in general, I should say: if nothing else helps, ask your doctor to prescribe you sleeping medication. Pharmacology is necessary in some conditions and this may be one of them. It’s more important to get sleep now than anything else. Consider that step as a temporary solution that can assist your healing process and I believe it will.

Is stress the cause for your thyroid illness and how can voluntarily simplicity reverse it?

by Svetla Bankova

Before you proceed reading, my dear reader, please do me a favor: close your eyes, take a deep breath and answer the question below:

“How would my life improve if I owned less stuff, did a few things only and said “no” more often?”

I’ve been asked many times in the past 11 years what exactly did I to cure myself from Graves’ disease and what was this one thing that helped me the most? There isn’t such one thing, you know, and there isn’t a 24 hours makeover….

However, there is this one thing that changed my life completely and it is called “voluntarily simplicity”. You can not call it “one thing”, but it’s a life philosophy…. and many things are included in these two simple words.

Stress is a high-risk factor in patients with thyroid auto-immune disorders, as found in a research by Kung, and posted in Clinical Endocrinology in 2008. The researchers found that patients with Graves’ disease experienced greater psychological stress and adverse events prior to the onset of the disease. They also concluded that as stress may change the immune system, it could play an important role in precipitating the disease in patients predisposed to autoimmune thyroid disorders.

So, how my stress levels were affected by simplifying my life? Voluntarily simplicity had the most impact in my life when I was trying to cure my Graves’ Disease. Other things were also involved like diet, supplements, herbs, yoga, aromatherapy, etc. –but that simplicity played the biggest role ever… How you may ask?

Let me tell you howI look at voluntary simplicity: simplicity is not about misery, or frugality, or being thrifty. It’s about discovering the important between many unimportant things.

Let’s travel back in time…In 2003, when I was freshly diagnosed with Graves’ disease, I was forced to I give up a lot of things that weren’t “so necessary” in my life, including, but not limited to the material stuff. It was either me, my health or “the things”.

That also meant that I accepted to live with a smaller income (almost twice smaller in fact), and way less stress (not to mention the 2 hours driving torture)! It also meant getting out of debt, and that was possible too! I’ve lived years with and without debt, I can appreciate the difference. Today, if I can’t afford to buy something right there, I don’t buy it. That gives me a huge peace of mind.

All these things that I “gave up” became the key for my healing, and living without stress and no alarm clock has no price tag, ever.

I had time, and time is a limited commodity as you know, so speaking I was “time- rich”. I also had the “do- nothing” time. I had space. I had energy. I could breathe, metaphorically and literally speaking. I could do things slowly and just take my time. I stopped yelling at family members and friends for no reason. Instead, I smiled. They could not make me angry or frustrated, my “stress buttons” were off…I had time for fun and sport. I had time to talk to people, even to sales people, and I actually did. I had time to spend time with myself and ask “What would you like to do now, Svetla? How are you feeling today, honey?”

Simplicity breeds harmony, patience, and compassion.

Simplicity is subtracting the unnecessary and adding the meaningful.

Simplicity could be applied to all aspects of our lives, not just part of it. The simpler, the better, that’s my motto. I am not saying that you should live an ascetic life, or in poverty, neither did I. It’s a voluntary lifestyle choice. I am mostly talking about reducing possessions that we don’t need, being stuck in the wanting mode, the never satisfied hunger for material things, the wow- entertainment, the mindless action, increasing the quality of life versus quantity of activities, it’s about learning to slow down and smell the roses.

It’s also about simple diet and simple food. When I look at a cook book and see these “page long recipes”, I just close the book. It will take me days to gather all the ingredients, not to mention the hours spent in the kitchen. I try to eat simple things, and I did not die of hunger the last 11 years. A boiled egg, a sliced tomato with salt, a piece of homemade bread with butter. Finally, “we are what we eat”, so try to eat simply.

Sort out your life– examine what is important and what is not, re-arrange your priorities, try to say “no” many times, to many things and to many people. The more I say “no”, the more I see how much more “no’s” I should’ve said.

Forget multitasking. If you are doing two or more things at once, you’re not doing either of them. Or you are just poorly doing them with a lot of frustration and stress as well. I know, too many things to do, no time at all. That’s the moment when you drop things out of your “to do list”. This is crucial for healing Graves’ disease. Try to juggle 5 balls, no try 2 balls….what’s easier?

Simplicity also means de-cluttering. Throwing away. Discovering “enough” for you. Valuing “the ordinary”. Going to a few places in one day, rather than more. Watching less, so you can see more. Carrying less, so you can climb more. Talking less, so you can hear more. Assuming less, so you can succeed more. Competing for less, so you can excel more. Paying attention.

There is no one way to do simple living right. Simplicity has many faces, these are just some of them. Find yours and stick with them. Or just experiment. For example, try the “The One Week Closet Experiment”. I borrowed the idea from Dave Bruno’s book The 100 Thing Challenge. Here’s how to do this experiment:

Open your closet and pick up enough clothes for one week.

Store these one-week clothes in a separate section in your closet.

Over the next month only wear the items in this section.

Evaluate the result. I promise you’ll be very surprised!

So, need a starting point? Here are some questions that can give you a jump start on your road to simplicity:

What is it about your current lifestyle that is not working for you?

What it is that is causing friction?

What is this one thing you can do now, today, that will improve your life?

4 Methods that can improve your thyroid antibodies, strengthen the immune system and help Graves’ disease and Hyperthyroidism symptoms

by Svetla Bankova

Graves’ disease, as I hope you know by now, is not a thyroid disorder! It is an auto-immune disorder that affects the thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes Type 1, Lupus etc. are also auto-immune disorders, they just affect other organs of the body. Therefore, the removal or destruction of the thyroid gland (which is the affected organ and the victim) will not solve the problem with your malfunctioning auto-immune system! Neither will do the herbs or supplements, or any other unconventional or conventional method that targets the thyroid gland only! As you can see from the picture, it proves my point:

The purpose of any treatment should be to lower the thyroid antibodies and to fix the autoimmune system, which has been compromised and caused Graves’ disease. But how do you do this? I often receive emails from clients saying that all their thyroid results (i.e. TSH, FT3 and FT4) are normal but their thyroid antibodies are still high. Well, yes…because the medication they were taking tries to “trick” the thyroid, but it can’t trick the immune system, which is the real issue on a first place…

With this mind, I am going to outline a two-step approach for treating Graves’ disease:

– Controlling the symptoms of Grave’s disease, using natural therapies as much as possible (herbs, vitamins, supplements) instead of toxic medication. (we talked about this in previous posts, but if you missed the articles check “Free articles” section).

– Treating the underlying immune system disorder, which will reverse Graves’ disease completely. And we will talk about this now.

There are four (4) methods I know that can help the auto-immune system performance and it’s up to you which one you’ll choose, or a combination of them. I know that they work, because I’ve tried some of them, others that I did not personally try- I researched and the corresponding information is below.

Aloe Vera contains a very important substance, called acemannan, found in its sugar part. It is a long chain polysaccaccaride and acts as an immune modulator, especially for the thyroid antibodies. Meaning that it has the power and ability to slow down or enhance the immune system response. In our case- it should be able to manage the immune system to recognize its own cells and not attack them. It acts however it is required by the immune system! I trust only one company when it comes to Aloe Vera and this is ForeverLiving. Click here to find more details:

Bovine Colostrum contains a few substances that are known to affect positively the immune system: PRP: Proline-Rich Polypeptides, Lactoferin and Immunoglobulins. While the PRPs act as an immune modulator and prevent the overproduction of lymphocytes and stimulates the production of T cells, Lactoferin and Immunoglobulins are effective in fighting viruses and bacteria within the body. Bovine colostrum is also used for boosting the immune system, healing injuries, repairing nervous system damage, improving mood and sense of well being, slowing and reversing aging, and as an agent for killing bacteria and fungus.

3. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). I personally haven’t tried this product, and it is often presented as “one drug can cure all” by some Big Pharma companies. I am not specifically endorsing this product, as I never tried that but it is good to know if any of the other natural products don’t work work. You can find more information about LDN on http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/. The website is sponsored by Advocates For Therapeutic Immunology and its purpose isto provide information to patients and physicians about important therapeutic breakthroughs in advanced medical immunology. It’s run by three medical doctors, and one of them, Bernard Bihari, MD, was the discoverer of the major clinical effects of low dose naltrexone. Use your own judgement!

The first thing I would definitely recommend is stress reduction techniques and life style changes. The reason: auto-immune system is highly influenced by hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. When our body experience chronic stress for prolonged period of time it exhausts the immune system to the point where it can not recognize the body’s own cells, causing autoimmune disorders like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s. Practically, the above mentioned LDN increases the endorphins, which help the better performance of the immune system. In other words, the happier you are, the better your immune system will perform. And I personally believe in that fact, just prefer to use other methods to achieve better health (check my books).

Whether or not you are using any type of anti-thyroid medication, I think the above products probably would only help (check with your doctor about LDN) and will not interfere with your usual treatment plan. If in any doubt, always check with your physician.

Are you being poisoned without knowing? Is your endocrine/immune system down because of dangerous chemicals? What you don’t know can hurt you! Your thyroid and toxicity.

by Svetla Bankova

In my youth, I have to admit, I used many cosmetic products, in order to look pretty (and who didn’t?) Every day I fed my skin with dozens of cosmetic products, as probably you do that too- shampoos, face creams, tonics, makeup, lipstick, conditioners, you name it. I also believed that if these products are sold on the in the stores, someone took the time to check them, had tested them and approved to be safe. Not so folks! FDA (in the USA for example) may not really have your best interest in mind, but I won’t talk about why here. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics the European Union currently bans over 1,300 chemicals from its cosmetics. In contrast, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned or restricted only 11. In the U.S., major discrepancies in federal law allow the cosmetics industry to put thousands of synthetic chemicals into personal care products that are not tested for safety, even if those chemicals are connected to cancer, disruption of the immune and endocrine system, reproduction or birth defects. If you don’t believe me, read for example Toxin Toxout by Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith. I was merely shocked.

Here are just a few of the “most” popular ingredients, often found in cosmetics: 1. Sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate (SLS, SLES) is a former industrial degreaser now used to make soap foamy, it’s absorbed into the body and irritates skin (skin rashes anyone?). 2. Toluene: well-known to disrupt the immune and endocrine system, and fetal development, it’s used in nail and hair products (hair falling, by any chance? Itchy scalp??). 3. Triclosan: used in antibacterial products, hand sanitizers, and deodorants, it is linked to cancer and thyroid system disruption. 4. Phthalates: Plasticizers banned in the EU in children’s toys, but present in many fragrances, deodorants, and lotions- linked to endocrine disorders, liver damage and cancer.5. Parabens: used as preservatives, but linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, and reproductive toxicity. 6. Paraphenylenediamine (PPD): used in hair products and dyes, but toxic to skin and immune system. These and many other products I call the “silent killers” of our bodies.

The list above is neither complete or exhaustive. But you get the idea, right?

The older I got, the more I read, the more convinced and scared I became. as I found that cosmetic industry uses thousands of synthetic chemicals in its products, with ingredients that are also used in industrial manufacturing processes to clean industrial equipment, stabilize pesticides and grease gears, deadly dangerous to us. Can we all agree that a substance that effectively cleans your garage floor may not be the best choice to put on your face? And do you know that your conditioner is actually a perfumed fabric softener? Things you don’t know can hurt you and sometimes kill you, and I am not trying to scare you but to offer you solutions that may help the recovery of your immune system and your health. Every little thing matters and counts, when comes to your health.

So, how all this may affect you?

And as we well know Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease are actually not thyroid disorders; they are disorders of the auto-immune system that target the thyroid. Once compromised, confused and disrupted the poor immune system, instead of fighting viruses, starts wrongly targeting different organs in our bodies: the kidneys, the liver, and in our case the thyroid gland. You may think that what you eat and drink is all that counts, but no…what you put on your body and face counts even more, since the skin is the largest organ of the body, able to absorb quickly everything we put on it! So, let’s be careful what we use.

Solutions. Managing toxicity and inflammation….

The best solution is not to pollute ourselves in the first place; for example, by replacing dangerous substances with safer ones. Second, read the labels, take that time, it’s worthy. If you find ingredients that are not familiar to you or sound more like Mendeleev’s chemical table, please do not buy. It’s not worth your health!

Third: Try to use natural products, to the best you can. I am not saying you should go broke by buying only organic products (which you could if money is not an issue!). But sometimes there is a simple solution that doesn’t cost so much money or too many efforts. And your body will love it.

What did I do to resolve the chemical poisoning problem?

I love experimenting and even making my own cosmetic products (my last experiment was with aromatherapy oils, which continues). But this “natural making products” happen to be time-consuming, expensive (you buy larger quantities of ingredients that you need) and sometimes not so successful. It takes time and money to get all the ingredients, to find recipes, to try and see if they are working. I decided to save myself this trouble…but still, use natural products. And then, as the Universe likes to conspire on your behalf when you have the right intentions, I met a woman that makes that all for me, with love, as she says.

Her name is Teodora Sheriff, mother of three boys, who is devoted to making you beautiful and more healthy at a very affordable price (the natural deodorant she makes with her own hands costs $8, compared to $6.00 and up store chemical deodorant, for example). Initially, she started to “cook” different cosmetics products for herself and her family only, but then she realized that other people are also in need of these natural products, but they may not have the time, resources or energy so she decided to make it more global. This is what she says:

“I believe that everything we need to enjoy a healthy and happy life is given to us by Mother Nature. We just need to look around and remember. Why use synthetic ingredients in our skin care products when there is a great variety of natural oils and jars of butter. An abundance of oils and jars of butter of any kind of plant, fruit, vegetable, spice, etc. are readily available.

I handcraft all my soaps and lotions with love and joy. I am having so much fun and knowing that my creations are revitalizing for you brings a smile on my face.”

Her products contain only a few ingredients, all natural, no preservatives and synthetic/artificial colors, freshly “cooked” upon request. She uses only 100% natural essential oils, dried herbs, and flowers, as she explains. And she can even make you a custom order with your favorite ingredients!

I personally have used her natural deodorant, the body butter (I had to restrain myself not to eat it), body scrub and soap, and so far I am very happy with the results- my skin feels soft, smells great and I know that no chemicals were applied to my skin (which by itself feels great as well!). The link to her products is below, indulge yourself! Your body and your face will love these products and will be thankful for not being poisoned and taking such a good care of it!

Teodora’s Skin Care

Disclaimer 1: Just like with all beauty products test for sensitivity! Even these are all natural products and some of the ingredients are purely organic, make sure you are not allergic to any of the substances used. If in any doubt, test first on a small spot and check in 24 hours. Enjoy!

Disclaimer 2: I have no financial or other interest of recommending these products, whatsoever.

How I detoxified myself and my household with Aromatherapy and why you should do that too..

As you already know me, I like to experiment with everything, especially if it may improve my and your lifestyle and health. My newest experiment was with Aromatherapy. The purpose- to detoxify myself and my household, which I believe will lead to better health and cleaner environment in general. How I did it and what are the results- read below. You’ll be amazed!!

But why I started with this experiment on a first place? Recently, I read a book, called “The Hundred Year Lie” by an investigative journalist Randal Fitzgerald. As the author says, we are constantly exposed to all kinds of toxins, for which are not even aware of- personal care products, add to that the over-the-counter and prescription drugs (vitamins and supplements as well) and all of the household cleaning products that you use (and I do too!). And on the top of that, most people just take it for granted that the products they use must have been thoroughly tested and deemed completely safe to use. Not so, folks.

Chemicals and toxins are invading our lives, often bringing serious illnesses and chronic disorders and I believe thyroid disorders are no exception. They destroy our immune system- making it underactive (cancer), overactive (allergies) or confused (autoimmune disorders) I’ll not explain here why, but if you’re interested check the book I mentioned above.

So, when you make a decision which is aligned with your “divine purpose”, (in my case to get rid of unknown, probably dangerous personal care products and cleaning supplies and substitute them with eco-friendly products + essential oils) the whole Universe starts to conspire with you. This is what happened:

I “met” Heather Grant (on Internet of course, where else?), a young, beautiful woman, mother of five and who was very kind to introduce me to aromatherapy- used as medicine, personal and household care. When you meet a mother of five and she starts talking to you, especially about Aromatherapy, you can only listen because probably she has a point.

For the purposes of my experiment she provided me with 6 essential oils (Lemon, Wild Orange, Peppermint, Lavender, and a few combinations). Not much, but it happens they were enough for my experiment. So, these are some of the things that I’ve learned and done in the past few weeks and I want to share with you:

Essential oils are drinkable and can be used for literally thousands of ailments, but they have to be “Pure Certified Oil”, or you may poison yourself. So, don’t take them internally if you are not 100% sure!!

All purpose cleaning: I trashed all different chemical sprays I could find under my kitchen sink and substituted with baking soda and/or white vinegar+ a few drops of Lemon or Peppermint. That’s it, worked fine.

Shampoo– was substituted with clay powder (pretty much any you can find)+ 4-5 drops Lavender. Works for me!

Conditioner– apple cider vinegar with Lavender (that didn’t work very well because of the vinegar smell, otherwise my hair was soft and manageable. I am looking for other options).

Lavender: I also used it for relaxation and to put me to sleep, quickly. Infused or topically, even internally, added to the water (glass bottle!).

Lemon: a few drops in my glass water bottle. Now the water had taste so I could drink the necessary 8 glasses of water/ day. You’ll love it.

Peppermint: 1-2 drops in water (glass) for upset stomach (I had that problem once).

You can also use Wild orange oil in water as a detoxifier. Fabulous.

Combined essential oils: I could not figure out initially what to use them for, I mean they smelled good, but then what? Heather said that if I put them at the bottom of my feet, my wrists or temples they can balance my moods throughout the day (well, I have these moods and weird emotional states too, and who doesn’t?). (As Heather explained, with 5 kids you need balance and serenity, so I believed her:).

Besides the essential oils I used for this particular experiment of mine, I know a few other Aromatherapy uses that can help your life right away: Lemon balm (melissa) oil- works directly on your thyroid ( used internally or topically); Lavender calms down the hectic mind; Frankincense oil improves your autoimmune system (internally, topically or infused); Grapefruit oil will help you loose weight; Orange, Peppermint or Ylang Ylang may help depression and low moody states; Maleleuka (Tea tree oil) will improve your gums and has anti-fungal properties to name a few of its hundreds of uses (this is a “must have” oil).

Hyperthyroidism symptoms, to name a few: Lavender (again!) and Vetiver – for hyperactivity. Restlessness– lavender and Yland Ylang (topically). Palpitations: Ylang Ylang, Wild Orange, Lavender (topically or a few drops on the chest). Inflammation: Frankincense, Wintergreen- topically and internally.

The above list of essential oils and their applications is not exhaustive or complete. I am just mentioning the most popular oils and their everyday use (or at least for what I have used them). I can’t also share all the recipes I prepared and used due to limitation of space and time (deodorants, dish washing liquids, softeners, face tonic etc. (Heather Grant was so nice to provide me with a cheat sheet on how to use the different products and she also made herself available for my crazy questions!).

There are a few conclusions that emerged from my last experiments:

You can substitute pretty much any chemical product in your household/personal care with products that are toxin- free and environmentally friendly. (And I mean make them by yourself!).

The product substitutes will be cheaper financially and health wiser as well.

Aromatherapy is centuries old alternative/complementary method for treating various ailments. It’s safe (if you use pure, certified essential oils of course), effective and works in most of the cases (if a particular oil does not work for you, try the next in line).

A single essential oil has numerous applications. You just need to know what you’re doing!

If you are sensitive or allergic- check first, or before applying the oil directly to your skin and mix with coconut oil/ almond oil or any other carrier oil. Never put in eyes and ears. In all cases, use essential oils with the label “Pure Cerified oil”.

This article is not complete; I didn’t have the space to write about everything I’ve learned about aromatherapy these past few weeks. But it’s a start. I feel lighter, happier and healthier. I know my body is also thankful for this experiment!

I am sure that many of you know or have applied at least one essential oil, and we want to hear from you how! Heather was kind enough to set up a drawing for my subscribers. Depending on when you are reading this article, the contest may be over. We actually have a winner from my subscribers and this is Terry, from Portales, NM, USA.

Also, any of you who may have any questions about the essential oils you may contact Heather at heathergrantwellness@gmail.com , she will be happy to answer to the best of her knowledge.

(Sorry guys, when it comes to Aromatherapy, Heather is the expert, so better ask her than me! I only can tell you that Aromatherapy is one of the best complementary methods I’ve ever used and you probably already guessed: I am not going back to the chemicals!

Happy smelling!

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest for writing this article, or recommending Aromatherapy or any of the above mentioned essential oils.

I’ve been a “thyroid traveler” in the “thyroid world” for more than 13 years. During my long “thyroid journey”, I came to realize how many factors play a significant role not only in our thyroid sickness but also in our thyroid healing.

I’ve found that our environment (social, family and work) has a tremendous role for the onset of thyroid disorders. Not only that: stress (chronic or single traumatic event) often acts as a trigger. Certainly, everyone has stress in their lives of all kind but how we handle it is another question.

The reason why some people handle it and others cannot be explained with special personality traits and personal characteristics (so-called the Five Big Personality traits). “Thyroid people” possess a unique combination of these personality traits, allowing them to accumulate stress and stay in highly stressful and harmful situations until they become literally physically or mentally ill.

In addition to that, their basic needs are not met on a constant basis (so speaking: belongingness, validation, nourishment, sensory and sexual need), all this generally due to the lack of sufficient self-esteem. I know from personal experience that a person with adequate self-esteem (not self- confidence!) will protect his boundaries, will know what is good or bad for him or his body, will not exhaust his mind and body for the sake of others, will not overwork himself to the point of exhaustion, will be able to say “no” when necessary. Because see, 13 years ago I couldn’t any of this. The list is not exhaustive or complete. But let’s see how all this relates to your thyroid disorder?

Sickness has its cycle, it has a beginning and it has an ending. Sickness starts because something went really wrong and can only end when things are done right. It is all possible, sickness is reversible, I know that from personal experience.

To examine the self-esteem specific domain (which I believe is one of the most important when talking about treating thyroid disorders) please read and check below which of these you proudly possess (Be brave, I am not watching).

Overworking yourself to the point of exhaustion.

Not taking good care of yourself.

Suffering and going above and beyond your limitations, physical or mental, so that others can feel good and happy.

Not able to say “no” when you feel you need to do so.

Tolerating and accepting assaulting behavior, unnecessary criticism and people causing you harm.

Blaming yourself for all the things that went wrong.

Trying to be responsible for everybody, for their actions and behavior.

Doing things for people whom you don’t like.

Being very critical toward yourself and others.

Difficulty knowing who to trust and when to trust.

Thinking that other people are focused on and critical about what you say or do.

Tendency to let fear and anxiety control many of your decisions.

Avoiding making changes in your life because you are fearful of making a mistake or failing.

Being very fearful of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.

Feeling guilty because you have your own needs and desires.

Staying in and keeping relationships that are abusive, insulting, or offensive.

Fulfilling unreasonable demands, because you are hungry for the approval of others (you can admit it to yourself, I am not judging you).

Feeling like a victim of people and circumstances and as a result, becoming emotionally stuck and immobilized.

Being unable to affirm or reinforce yourself positively even though, let’s face it, you are an overachiever.

Being unable to make an honest assessment of your strengths, qualities, and good points, thus, you find it difficult to accept compliments or recognition from others.

Making decisions based on what would please others, rather than on what you want or without even considering what you want.

Feeling others are mistreating you, or are taking advantage of you.

Being unable to speak up for yourself.

If you checked many of the above items, you, my friend, are in big trouble. Bluntly put, this might be the biggest cause of your sickness. And you have to change your mind, right now, first.

Because low self-esteem, besides the “action” side (things that we do as a result of this low self-esteem), also has an “emotional” side, unfortunately. As a result of all of the above “wrong doings”, people with low self-esteem are very likely to accumulate a bouquet of negative emotions like (check again): anxiety, sadness, irritation, frustration, annoyance, emotional sensitivity and liability, hostility, shame, aggression, resentment, embarrassment, loneliness, lack of spontaneity, constant self-doubt, and insecurity. This is just unavoidable. At some point all this will result in inability to handle stress and everyday life challenges in general.

Do you see now how it is all related? Then the disease (thyroid or not depending on your character traits) is just a step away because your whole system will simply collapse.

Working on your self-esteem is one of the most important factors in your healing process, believe it or not. I am not saying that it is an overnight cure, but it is an important starting point (along with your diet, supplements, and physical exercises). Then everything will start to fall into place and your healing will begin!

To further prove my point that your mind can, indeed, help the healing of your thyroid, I am also providing coaching consultations. You’ll also need the Skype program installed on your computer (it’s free) and a camera so we can see each other. Details about the sessions you can find here:

I am specifically interested in working with people with their thyroid still intact (if possible), those who are highly motivated to reverse their disease or desperate people who think that “nothing else helps” their condition. Because there is always a way out, no matter what.

Can gluten free diet help Graves’ disease/Hyperthyroidism? Can it cure it?

by Svetla Bankova

A million dollar question. That’s exactly the question that I’ve been asked over and over again in the past 10 years. The answer though is – it depends. But as Hippocrates said: “All diseases begin in the gut.” Was the man right so many centuries ago? I did some research and here are my thoughts on the subject:

If an individual has a healthy intestines and stomach, products like wheat, rye and barley are very unlikely to cause any problem. However, if there is an inflammation of the intestines or because of the over-processed and canned foods we constantly eat, there are no healthy bacteria to help the digestive process.

Such a person may develop the so called leaky gut syndrome. This leaky gut syndrome will occur if the lining of the intestines become impaired or inflamed and this will allow toxins and gluten, as well as other substances that are not supposed to be there to enter the blood stream, thus, alarming the immune system that there are invaders in the blood. Some researcher also believe that the leaky gut syndrome is caused mainly by antibiotics which can destroy the healthy bacteria in the large intestine, create conditions for yeast overgrowth and cause, finally, Celiac disease. While I do believe that antibiotics play certain role, that’s not all. The average person today consumes daily tons of medications ranging from painkillers to antidepressants and anxiety medications. If you think that these medications are not affecting the stomach flora, think again. Plus, you can add all the foods (all, with an exception of the organic), that contain all kinds of preservatives, stabilizers and chemicals that nobody knows what are there for and what they do to us. When the yeast (so called candida albikans) in the large intestines overgrows due to the above mentioned reasons it causes inflammation of the small intestine, which, in other perfect conditions will prevent the toxin and chemicals to get into the blood stream.

I would think that this is how some of the autoimmune diseases are born, or at least that could be one of the reasons. Celiac disease, accordingly, is connected with this leaky gut syndrome and pertains to allergic reaction to gluten. It usually affects the small intestine and prevents the body to properly absorb food. Some of symptoms of celiac disease are diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, irregular menstrual periods, weight loss, muscle cramps, skin problems of different kinds, mostly rashes, hair loss. These symptoms, as you may have noticed already, are very similar to some of the Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism symptoms, and in fact some of hypothyroidism symptoms as well.

The evidence on the connection between Celiac disease and thyroid disorders is just piling up in the last few years, especially with the drastically increased number of children, diagnosed with Graves’ Disease. Why? Because children are more prone to eat unhealthy snacks, and school food, where parents have no control over it. (My daughter’s school served to children free milk with a lot of sugar in it, while a bottle of water cost $1/bottle. I am wondering why water is more expensive than milk in this school?)

Anyhow, a study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that 11 of 15 children who have been diagnosed with Celiac disease and thyroid disorder at the same time after following up a gluten- free diet for about 12+ months, saw drastic improvement in their thyroid levels. Another study (below) found that people with Celiac disease are way more likely to have elevated thyroid antibodies, compared to those who did not have problems with their guts (37.5% vs. 4.4%). The study also demonstrated a positive correlation between anti-tTG and thyroid antibody titers in patients who had Celiac disease. And as we all know, one of the ways to reduce anti-tTG levels in this case is to go gluten-free.

So, will gluten- free diet help Graves’ disease and improve your thyroid levels? Very likely the answers is yes, especially if you were not so much into the “healthy eating” thing. And I would suggest everyone who is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism to get tested for Celiac disease, just in case.

Celiac disease is also believed to be a great companion of other autoimmune disorders like Lupus, Graves’ Disease, Diabetes I, and Rheumatoid Arthritis etc. If you don’t want to get tested to whatever reason (the test is actually a biopsy of the small intestines), try to be on a gluten-free diet for at least a month or 6 weeks and see if your symptoms improve or not. You may not have Celiac disease, but you can be just sensitive to gluten products.

Most doctors believe that celiac disease is incurable. I don’t know that, but if you try to eat gluten- free products (specifically avoid products with wheat, barley and rye) for some time and also use probiotics to support the digestive process you may eventually see great improvement, including in your thyroid antibodies. Probiotics are also found in the yogurt that contains “live cultures” like Streptococcus Thermophilus, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus Lactis, Lactobacillus Casel, Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterlum spp. The yogurt containing these cultures will say on the label “live and active probiotic cultures”.

I personally take probiotics daily as a supplement because I consider most of the foods sold in stores as “dead” food. Even though I prefer to cook from scratch, I can’t completely avoid the artificial products, stabilizers, coloring and flavors that are used in food processing today.

Another product that can greatly benefit your stomach and intestines is the Aloe Vera gel, which I already mentioned for other purposes. As you can see it doesn’t have only one benefit, but many for that matter! So, finally, get your Aloe Vera! (link is provided for your convenience here).

And for those who want to know more about the healing properties of real foods, please, go ahead and download your own, free copy of “Food Remedies”, written in 1908 by Florence Daniel, but still valid today. (Courtesy of my website for you being a valued reader!)

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder and one of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism. Today only a few methods, mostly medical, are available for treating this thyroid disorder: thyroidectomy (partial or total), medication (Methimazole, PTU and similar), Radioactive Iodine Treatment (radiation of the thyroid gland) and block and replace therapy.

All of the above methods have certain side effects, temporary or permanent, including the anti-thyroid drug therapy. Many people are forced to undergo thyroidectomy or RAI because of the adverse effects of the anti- thyroid medications they experience, or because they are simply allergic and cannot be treated with them. The scientific research on herbal remedies and natural cures for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism is very limited or missing at all. Most of the herbal remedies are known as a “word of mouth” and practically, there is no scientific research to prove if they are really effective or not or to what extent.

However, a team of scientists from the Oriental Medical Hospital at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea decided to conduct a research on 22 patients diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in the period between February 2004 and June 2006. The purpose of the study was to establish whether or not certain oriental herbs/mixture can influence or improve the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), FT3, T4 (thyroxine) and thyroid antibody levels (TSO) of the above mentioned hyperthyroid patients (Lee, Kang, Ahn, Doo, Ahn (2008). The study consisted of two parts, but for the purposes of this article, I’ll concentrate just on the first part of it. The complete study though can be accessed from the bottom link at the end of this post.

The herbal remedy for Graves disease in question was AJBHT (ahnjeonbaekho-tang) extract powder, which is a dried mixture of the following raw materials: kudzu (Pueraria thunbergiana), Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), gypsum, platycodon (Platycodon grandiflorum), Angelica tenuissima, Chinese cimicifuga (Actaea cimicifuga syn. Cimicifuga foetida), fragrant angelica (Angelica dahurica), and Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) in a ratio of 5:2:1:1:1:1:1:1. The herbal materials used in this mixture are air-dried by special equipment to preserve their properties, crushed and added to distilled water.

The diagnosis of the 22 Graves’ disease patients was based on clinical symptoms and laboratory tests, including suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, high serum thyroid hormone levels, and the presence of TSH receptor autoantibodies (TRAb). The Graves’ Disease patients were not on any antithyroid drugs at the time of the clinical trial, never underwent RAI treatment or thyroidectomy and they all previously experienced adverse side effects from the antithyroid drugs (methimazole and prophylthiouracil). The patients were treated with AJBHT (aqueous extracts 6 g) three times a day for 3 months. Serum levels of free thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine (T3), TSH, and TRAb were measured in daily in the morning and after the administration of AJBHT. There were no side effects from the application of the herbal powder.

The herbal remedy for Graves Disease: medicinal powder mixture

Ahnjeonbaekho-tang (AJBHT) is made of eight medicinal herbs: Pueraria thunbergiana, Scutellaria baicalensis, Gypsum, Platycodon grandiﬂorum, Angelica tenuissima, Cimicifuga foetida, Angelica dahurica and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Pueraria thunbergiana and Scutellaria baicalensis are known to regulate thyroid hormone, and the others are known contribute to relieving the clinical symptoms of hyperthyroidism. It is also believed that daidzein from Pueraria thunbergiana may inhibit the thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO). While these herbs are practically unknown in Western culture, they have been used for centuries by the Eastern one for various purposes.

Results of the study

From the 22 patients enrolled in the study, 4 dropped out for various reasons. The remaining 18 (7 men and 11 women) were followed for 3 months. The results of the study indicated that the AJBHT mixture improved thyroid hormone based on T3 measurements in 17 patients (94.4%); FT4 levels in 15 patients (83.3%); and TSH in 14 patients (77.8%). No significant changes were seen though in TRAb levels (thyroid antibodies), which is no surprise to me because thyroid antibodies in general are the last to improve and it takes much more than 3 months to see results. My experience also shows that the path of progress for treating Graves’ Disease (with anti-thyroid drugs) generally starts with T3, T4 improvement and then the next to improve is TSH, followed by thyroid antibodies, which is also in concurrence with the present study findings.

The study has some limitations that have to be mentioned here: the sample size is too small (18 people) to draw general conclusions, valid for all Graves’ disease patients. The clinical trial was also too short in duration (3 months) to register any permanent effects in the TRAb levels, which are, in fact, the real indicator for clinical euthyroidism. Another disadvantage is that the herbs are not easily accessible by the public, require specific way of preparation and thus, should be prepared by a certified oriental herbalist who specializes in Chinese/oriental herbal medicine. However, regardless of all limitations, the results of the study undoubtedly indicate that these specific herbs and herbal mixture can positively influence Graves’ disease in patients who are allergic to anti-thyroid medication or do not want to use more invasive methods like RAI treatment of thyroidectomy, which have permanent negative effects and consequences.

Conclusion: While I am not recommending just to google the herbs one by one and try to make your own herbal mixture, I can suggest that you search for an oriental herbalists in your area and explore further your treatment options for Graves’ Disease and hyperthyroidism. I do believe that this will be worth the efforts.

Palpitations are probably one of the worst symptoms of Grave’s Disease, not to mention Thyroid Eye Disease. Hyperthyroidism Palpitations usually strike when you are resting, but not always. When they come you panic, probably feel urged to do things, and move. But should be doing exactly the opposite. Hyperthyroidism palpitations are still manageable and controllable, with or without beta- blockers. Beta- blockers are usually prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety and in severe cases, you should take them as prescribed, but here I’ll give a few other tips that can help you calm down and manage your hyperthyroidism palpitations.

For the purpose of this writing, I will assume that you are working full time, with family and kids. That probably is the worst case scenario, because you have to take care of so many things, many of them even out of your control, I know it from personal experience. So here we go:

Morning: if you have to get up at let’s say at 7 a.m. set your alarm clock (not cell) 15 or more minutes earlier. Take your time to wake up completely and stretch, don’t just run out of bed. This is important to keep your stress levels down starting in the morning. If you can, I would also advise you to buy one of these natural sunlight alarm clocks. I am not suggesting any particular company, but they can be found for app. $40. They are worth the investment.

So now, open your eyes and tell me what you see in your bedroom? Whatever you see must be pleasing to your eyes. Clean up messy bedrooms as the energy there is stuck, move out all TVs, computers, cell phones or any other technical machines. You don’t need them but they literally bathe you with electricity and interfere with your sleep.

Look around your bedroom again- what colors are prevailing? For now, I would advise you to stick with light green, light blue, light purple. I am not going into details why there is an article on my website especially about color (chromotherapy). And yes, it does matter.

Go on with your usual routine. If you are drinking coffee, substitute with decaffeinated. If you drink tea- let this be Lemon Balm tea or Chamomile tea. Or Nettle tea. Nettle tea can be bottled, refrigerated and drank instead of water. I highly advise you to do so as it nourishes the adrenal glands like no other herb. I make 2 bottles with Nettle tea, refrigerate them (you don’t have to) but it just tastes better for me. Tea must be fresh for the day. No Green tea, no black or grey. Forget about this for a while. No sugar or artificial sweeteners, you are only allowed, honey.

On your way to work, if you stay in traffic for an hour, turn off that radio and put some classic or calming music, whatever you prefer. If you don’t have a CD player, just stay in silence. If you travel in a public transportation- isolate yourself with iPod with that same music I mentioned above, and close your eyes. You don’t have to look at all these already nervous, anxious and frustrated people. It is contagious.

At work: Limit your activities to the minimum required by your job. No overdoing, no multitasking, it’s not the time for that. If a colleague gets on your nerves, just walk away. If you are given tasks that will additionally frustrate you don’t be scared to talk with the manager and supervisor and explain your situation. They are all people and in most of the cases will understand.

Breaks: take them, there is a purpose for them. Lunch break- go for a walk or just isolate yourself in some private place and put your iPod on. Zone out. Do not engage yourself in meaningless conversations, or online shopping. Get off this computer. Eat slowly, take your time. No sodas, no coke, nothing that contains aspartame, because it affects hyperthyroidism palpitations. What you should eat and diet is another topic. On your way home: same as above. Do not try to kill your time in traffic talking to people on the phone. Deep breathing. It is proven it is the best way to kill stress.

When you get home, before starting your second full-time job with the family- cooking, cleaning, homework, etc. just lie down, dear, lie down and close your eyes for about 30 minutes. Everything else can wait. This is your time to recover. Most of our problems come from chronic exhaustion, nothing else. Depression, anxiety, you name it, is usually due to chronic fatigue and tiredness, or at least one of the reasons. After this 30 min, you can go back to your usual routine.

Sleep– you must spend at least 8 hours in your bed (resting and sleeping). If you go to sleep usually around 11, that means you must be in bed at least 1 hour earlier. Drink a cup of Lemon Balm or Valerian Roots tea, a glass of wine is allowed too if you prefer, or warm milk with a spoon of honey. No TV, but you can watch movies (not in bed though). Avoid excessive noise, it hurts.

On Sundays, sit down and write 3 things that you love doing: massage, reading, movies, knitting, dancing, and scrap booking, your choice. And put them in your schedule for the next week. Make sure that they are your priority.

Take frequent walks in nature, which helps a lot. Do meditation, regularly 15- 25 min (I mean every single day). I suggest no treadmills, no running, and no aerobics type exercises- you can do them another time. I did not list these activities in the above routine but you can make some space and time for them in your schedule.

This is the most simplified version of a recovery routine to manage palpitations. Do it for 2 weeks and let me know how you feel. You’ll see results, I guarantee you.

Graves’ Disease/ Hyperthyroidism Posts

Graves’ Disease/ Hyperthyroidism Posts

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Testimonials

Dearest Svetla,
Thank you so very very much, for all your help. It has been so very useful! It is great to know that I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE! I must say my life has been so very very very stressful, and in fact I don’t take stress well at all. I must now learn, that I cannot please everyone and must now think of myself. I do not have a big problem with heart racing, etc. but sleep deprivation is a big problem. I will carry on with your herbal suggestions. I will keep you updated, as I go along.

My best wishes for Christmas to you and your family. God Bless you.

Lynn, South Africa

Dear Svetla,

Thank you, I love the list! I’ve been working less and laying low, it was my natural inclination when I realized something was wrong. I feel the need to tend to myself and relax! I’ve been decluttering my house, my life & my desk at work! Also, I’ve been wanting to paint a picture and will start soon. I DON’T want to shop for the holidays, so I think I’ll make some special food items for the people I love! Thank you again!

Bonnie, Stony Brook, United States

Svetla,

Thanks. I am from Colombia-Costa Rica and never got sick before. Now I understand why- but is in the past and now after I found your web I started to feel much better. Please keep sending me info. I have the manual and doing everything.

Laura, Costa Rica

Hello Svetla Bankova,

Thank you for you excellent research result &your your advice. I would like to know the treatment of thyrocardiac disease & its prognosis in detail as well.